DFA: Japanese rescuers to conduct aerial search for missing Filipino crew, other sailors

MANILA, Philippines — The Japanese Coast Guard will conduct aerial operations to find the still missing Filipino crew members of a Panamanian-flagged cattle vessel that sunk off Japan’s waters last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Monday.

In a statement, the DFA said “search by patrol boat is not possible at this time” since the area “is still pounded by gusty winds.”

Japanese rescuers earlier temporarily suspended their rescue mission as another typhoon barreled toward Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture.

“The DFA remains hopeful that the other Filipino seafarers will soon be found,” the department said.

Further, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka as well as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office would continue to monitor and coordinate with the local authorities, shipowner, and the manning agency to extend all appropriate support for the Filipino seafarers and their families.

Japanese rescuers had already found three of the ship’s crew, including two Filipinos and another crewman of unannounced nationality. The vessel’s crew consisted of 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders, and two Australians.

First, to be rescued was the vessel’s 45-year-old Filipino chief officer Eduardo Sareno, who was found at sea by the coast guard and rescued late on Wednesday.

The second was found alive but unconscious near Amami Oshima on Friday morning, but the sailor was later pronounced dead.

The third crew member to be rescued was 30-year-old deckhand Jay-Nel Rosales, who was found Friday afternoon by a search plane as he was waving for help on a life raft about two kilometers off Kodakara island. [ac]